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Medicare and the fight against Medicare fraud

Marketing Medicare products · published Mar 12, 2012

Many peopel have now heard or seen the commercials from Medicare encouraging Seniors and other Medicare beneficiaires to get involved with the fight against Medicare fraud and waste - which is costing us all millions of dollars a year.

Here are the tips that Medicare added to their 2012 Blog about how you can fight against Medicare fraud:
  • Guard your Medicare and Social Security numbers. Treat them like you would treat your credit cards.
  • Hang up the phone if someone calls and asks for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank or credit card information. We will NEVER call and ask for this information, and we will NEVER call you or come to your home uninvited to sell Medicare products.
  • Be suspicious of anyone who offers you free medical equipment or services and then requests your Medicare number. It’s illegal, and it’s not worth it!
  • Do not let anyone borrow or pay you to use your Medicare ID card or your identity.
  • Check your Medicare claims for errors. Look at your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or statements from your Medicare plan. You can also check www.MyMedicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) as soon as your claims have been processed. The sooner you see and report errors, the sooner we can stop fraud. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
  • Call 1-800-MEDICARE to report any suspected fraud.
(from:  http://blog.medicare.gov/ 2012/03/12/ join-the-fight-against -medicare-fraud-2/)
Medicare also provided the following links:

Learn more about spotting and reporting fraud, and get tips on protecting yourself from identity theft.

Find out about Senior Medicare Patrol activities in your area.


June 6, 2013 Update:

According to a June 2013 Medicare Press Release: "Over the last four years, the Obama administration has recovered over $14.9 billion in healthcare fraud judgments, settlements, and administrative impositions, including record recoveries in 2011 and 2012."

Medicare also reminds you that you can receive a reward of up to $1,000 for a tip that leads to exposing Medicare fraud.

(https://www.cms.gov/ Newsroom/ MediaReleaseDatabase/ Press-Releases/ 2013-Press-Releases-Items/ 2013-06-06.html)